News & Notes for August 1, 2013

Hello Holland First Family, •Tonight at 6:30pm, Key Leaders meeting, for those who received a letter. Please meet in the Youth Room. Childcare is provided. •Also tonight at 7pm – Men’s Fellowship at Rich Hardenburgh’s home. •Saturday, August 3rd Cookout & Pool Party for 5th graders going into 6th grade this year. Noon-3pm. RSVP with Pastor Christina at christinak@hollandfirst.org •Sunday AM service Pastor Mike will share a message plus we will have Communion. Come back at 6pm for Worship and a message from Pastor Larry. ***Note: We will NOT have S.N.A.C. potluck this Sunday night but have moved it to Sunday, August 18th. That evening we will have a special Honduras Testimony night with a “Mexican” S.N.A.C potluck.***

News and Notes for the weekend of July 20-21

Hello Holland First Family, Here are a few events to keep in mind for the weekend… •TONIGHT! Men’s Fellowship at Rich Hardenburgh’s home – 7pm •There is a Men’s Breakfast on Saturday at the church at 9a.m. No cost – just donations. •Also on Saturday from 1:30-4:30p.m. stop by the church to have your vehicle washed by Radiant youth and help them with their fundraiser for National Fine Arts. No set price – taking donations!!! •Sunday at 10am Pastor Mike will be concluding his series, “Not a Fan!” We will also have guest Missionary Flynn Clanton with us. He will be sharing for a few minutes on his work in Argentina. And don’t forget about the special love offering we will be taking for the Honduras Missions Team. Please be in prayer as to what God would have you give. •Sunday night at 6pm we will have a special “Honduras Missions Team Commissioning Service.” We will be anointing and praying for the entire team. Don’t miss this opportunity to send them out with your prayers. www.hollandfirst.com

News & Notes for the Weekend of July 13-14

Hello Holland First Family, Here are some reminders as we head into the weekend… •Tonight at 7pm Men’s Fellowship at Rich Hardenburgh’s home •Friday Night Softball! Games originally scheduled for July 5th were moved to this Friday night, July 12th 6:30pm – First Assembly vs. First Assembly #2 – Kraai Field 7:30pm – First Assembly vs. Peace Lutheran – Kraai Field 8:30pm – First Assembly #2 vs. Graafschap Young Guns – Kraai Field •Saturday, July 13th 1-4pm Puppet Boot camp at the church with Pastor Christina; for those interested in learning the art of puppetry and prop making. •This Sunday Pastor Mike Houser will be back in the pulpit! He will continue his series, “Not a Fan!” There will be child dedications. And it’s a Life Group Sunday so make plans to join a group for the afternoon. Don’t forget the Pretzel Sale after service! Support the Marriage Retreat and stop by the kitchen to purchase a soft pretzel with cheese for only $2. www.hollandfirst.com

News & Notes for Thursday, June 27

Hello Holland First Family, •Tonight! Radiant Youth will be attending a Whitecaps game. Cost is $15 and covers the cost of a ticket and food purchases. Students will leave from the church at 5pm and return around 10:30pm •Holland First Softball Schedule – Friday, June 28 6:30pm – First Assembly vs. Barnabas Gray – Bil Mar Field 6:30pm – First Assembly #2 vs. Peace Lutheran – Kraai Field 7:30pm – First Assembly vs. Hope Church – Kraai Field •For those who are interested in taking the Purple Book/Discipleship class, we are restarting the book this Sunday from 9:00 – 9:45. If you have any questions, please contact Geoff Brinkman (benson1972@sbcglobal.net) and remember the book is free! Childcare is available upon request. Contact the church office at (616) 396-5646 so that arrangements may be made. •This Sunday during the 10am service we will be honoring our Nation and Armed forces in light of the upcoming Holiday. Please feel free to come dressed in your military uniform. •Sunday Night at… 5pm - FINAL Honduras Missions Trip meeting. Please make every effort to attend. Meet in the Prayer Room 5:30pm – Water Baptism orientation class. It’s not too late to join. Meet upstairs in the Staff Conference Room. Bring your Bible, change of clothes and a towel. 6pm – ACCESS night! A time of intimate worship to the King. ***Note: Family Night will be canceled Wednesday, July 3rd in light of the 4th of July Holiday taking place the next day.*** Have a great weekend! www.hollandfirst.com

6-13-13 NEWS!!!!!!

Hello Holland First Family, Here’s what’s happening this weekend… •Friday Night Softball! (June 14th) 6:30pm – First Assembly vs. Bethany – Kraai Field 7:30pm – First Assembly vs. Barnabas Blue – Kraai Field 7:30pm – First Assembly #2 vs. Bethany – Bil Mar Field 8:30pm – First Assembly #2 vs. Hope Church – Kraai Field •This Sunday is Father’s Day! Pastor Mike Houser will be preaching a special Father’s Day message plus there will be gifts for all the guys and a video tribute in honor of all dads. Keep in mind there will be NO PM service in light of Father’s Day. •(Looking Ahead) Next Sunday is our Annual Church Cookout after the AM service at Lawrence Park in Zeeland. Last Names A-M bring a dessert to share plus beverage and Last Names N-Z bring a side dish plus beverage to share. The church will be providing hotdogs, hamburgers and the rest! Don’t forget to sign up for the Volleyball Tournament. Have a BLESSED weekend! www.hollandfirst.com

We Know the Ending!

By Michael Youssef, Ph.D. While witnessing one team take a lopsided lead in a sporting event, we sometimes keep watching because of the slight chance that the losing team could mount a comeback. More often than not, that team fails, but at least there is hope. When Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave, He secured the victory for us. Jesus’ triumph over death also gave us the victory over death’s grip, both here on earth and in eternity. No longer do we have to be held in bondage to sin on earth. No longer do we have to pay the price of death for our sins on earth either. Jesus’ sacrifice covered it all. Life can be difficult. It can even feel gloomy and full of despair. Yet, just as Jesus’ sacrifice gives us new life, His last words before His death fill us with hope: “It is finished.” Like watching a movie for the second time where all the suspense is removed, so is living our lives here on earth if we are walking with the hope and assurance of salvation in Christ. We know the ending. God is victorious. Satan, sin, and death are defeated. Jesus’ death and resurrection give us eternal life, and His final words on the cross give us encouragement, spurring us to press on because God is the victor and we are His people. While the enemy may make a last-ditch effort to discourage you and to divert the plans God has for your life, he will not win. God loves you and when you place your faith and hope in Him, He will deliver you from all the wiles of the enemy. The victory has already been won! Prayer: Lord, reveal to me how I can walk more in the victory of Christ each day. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen. “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” (Psalm 20:7)

Weekend News for May 4 & 5

Hello Holland First Family, Here are a few items to keep in mind as we head into the weekend… •This Sunday is the last day to order flowers for Mother’s Day. Stop by the designated table to purchase a dozen roses for $20. Flowers will be delivered on Mother’s Day. Any extra flowers will be available for purchase that day but to guarantee that you will have roses to give, it will be better to place an order. •Rick Pasquale will be with us Sunday, May 5th for both our 10am & 6pm services. We will have communion in the morning. Please note that the S.N.A.C. potluck for Sunday night has been moved to May 19th •Fiesta Lunches 2 Go will be available for pick up after Sunday morning’s service. If you did not get a chance to place an order you may still stop by the kitchen; any extra lunches will be sold on a first come first serve basis. As for next week… •There will be NO Wednesday Electives May 8th due to Tulip Time. Have a BLESSED weekend! Pastoral Staff www.hollandfirst.com